Zion Ponderosa Day #3

We are so lucky to live so close to the Zion Ponderosa Resort! We were able to do three different activities, and we chose horseback riding, wall climb/ zip-line, and 4-wheeling! Elaine and I are such city girls, it was fun to be "outdoorsy"!

Elaine on her first horse back ride!
Me almost at the top of the climbing wall! (I made the mistake of looking down- BIG mistake!)

Waving right before I took off down the zip-line!

It was a busy but fun day, we tried to go to sleep at a decent hour because the next morning we hiked.... ANGELS LANDING!

Bryce Day #2

Can you believe that the Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon are only 3 1/2 hours apart but look so different from one another?! The reds, browns, greens, and orange colors are so beautiful! It was a warmer day but it cooled off quickly after a mid-afternoon storm! This is just so different from anything we have on the East Coast!

Bryce Canyon!
What a gorgeous view!

Rockville, Grand Canyon- Day 1

Rockville, Utah! How funny is that?! If you look closely you will see us givng the "05" for the year we graduated from RHS!

My dad, myself, and Emily at the Grand Canyon! We could not have asked for better weather, and the Grand Canyon was just as amazing as ever!

The Grand Canyon North Rim!

I am so glad that we were able to see the Grand Canyon, it is truly an amazing place! My mom always reminds us that people come from all around the world to see this. I guess this is a reminder not to take all of my surroundings for granted!

Summer Reading

I have been reading a bunch since I got home last month....

I have read "Gone With The Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
"The Lovely Bones" by, Alice Sebold
"Digging to America" by, Anne Tyler

I would have to say out of those three my favorite was "Gone With The Wind". In fact it has become my new favorite book (replacing Pride and Prejudice). Much to my mother's dismay I identified a little too much with Scarlett! Her character sometimes made me laugh out loud, her opinions, decisions, and things she said were very ahead of her time! She was dramatic, spoiled, jealous, and did a lot of things out of spite. Note: These are not the reasons I identified with her! I can't really put my finger on why I liked her so much...

Text to Real Life Connections (Thank you AP Lit.)

"She could get Rhett back. She knew she could. There had never been a man she couldn't get, once she set her mind upon him." - Once or twice (a very long time ago) I may have been quoted saying this.

"I'll think of it all tomorrow... I can stand it then."
"I won't think of it now. I can't stand it now. I'll think of it later"- This is Scarlett's favorite method of coping with her problems. I have been known to say this, but after reading Gone With The Wind I have discovered that it is probably not the best coping method!

FUTURE READING

I think Sanjay Gupta (NOT Sanjaya from American Idol) is so hot- which is the real reason I took a picture with his book "Chasing Life". He is also smart, and a doctor, all of which add to the hot factor. However, I did watch a segment on CNN about the book and it seemed pretty interesting.

I am currently reading "Special Topics in Calamity Physics" (that has a nice ring to it) by Marisha Pessl. It sounds a lot smarter than it really is!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Here are a few things I just love about you! (44 to be exact!)

1. You always listen even when I go on and on and on
2. You have a great sense of humor
3. You are thoughtful
4. You love your family
5. You love the gospel
6. You are an example to me
7. You love to read and have passed that on to each of your girls
8. You are creative
9. You are a "cool" mom
10. You are smart
11. You support us in everything that we do.
12. You are unselfish- you always put others before yourself
13. You know how to make cheese, soap, lip gloss, etc.
14. You know how to text message
15. You are open minded
16. You celebrate things in 100 month increments
    
17. You are willing to try new things
18. You give good advice
19. You are a good friend
20. You are patient
21. You are a great public speaker
22. You are a democrat
23. You are knowledgeable about the world
24. You are a good teacher
25. You knit your own socks
26. You are optimistic
27. You always find the good in others
28. You are a really great driver, especially in reverse
29. You love your three daughters and husband
30. You hate shopping especially at the mall- but do it (See #12)
31. You volunteer your time and talents
32. You have amazing skin
33. You are always tan
34. You hardly ever yell
35. You hate to have your picture taken
36. You plan fun vacations
37. You know how to have fun
38. You are not fake
39. You are honest
40. You have and keep high standards
41. You do not look 44
42. You are one of my very best friends
43. You are fabulous!
44. You are MY mom!

Happy Birthday Mom! I hope you have a great birthday!
I love you!

The End of Second Semester!

We are slowly wrapping everything up...

and by the end of the night...

Only one girl will sleep here tonight...

The apartment will be cleaner than it has ever been...

The parking lot will be close to empty...

We will have all said our "good-byes" ...

I can't believe that it is over!

These are a few of my books from this semester- I was extremely glad to sell them back. I decided that I should go into the selling text books business!

This was my last load of things... some people thought this was all I had! They did not realize that I moved most of my stuff last week!
My side of the apartment....
NOTE: Everyone loved their frames and notes!

My 100 list!

I loved reading everyone's list of 100 things, so I decided to make my own. It took me about a month to come up with them.. but here they are!

Alicia's 100

1. I am the oldest daughter and granddaughter on both sides of my family.
2. I LOVE polka dots
3. I lived in NYC for a semester
4. I saw Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz in Little Italy before they were “officially together”
5. I talk to my mom almost every single day on the phone.
6. I was voted “Best to take home to your parents” my Senior year
7. I have had the same best friend since 8th grade.
8. I collect quotes.
9. I met Brad from Real World San Diego
10. I love to make “to do” lists- there is something about being able to check off each completed task!
11. I worked at Old Navy (and will again…)
12. I love to write little notes and cards to people!
13. I can do the splits.
14. I love to workout but I am not in that great of shape!
15. I want to get into better shape!
16. I hate cantaloupe and ham.
17. I try to write in my journal almost every single night. (I have been writing since I was about 8 and have probably 12 journals!)
18. I believe in living “Happily Ever After…”
19. My two favorite shows are LOST and The Office.
20. I am a member of the International Sorority Alpha Phi
21. I lived in Texas, California, Maryland, NYC, and now Utah.
22. I am definitely an East Coast kind of girl.
23. I have been told numerous times that I come across extremely snobby, but it is just because I am shy at first!
24. I need to be more careful about the things that I say because my words are very powerful. (I have been told this)
25. I am learning that not everyone is going to like me, but it is a hard lesson to learn because I can’t stand not being liked.
26. I want to know a lot about the world, so I watch CNN every morning and every night.
27. I LOVE my family more than they probably will ever know!
28. Even though I love living out here, I still cry after my parents leave from visiting me, or when I leave them!
29. I love sushi, and crabs (thanks to Elaine)!
30. I own a few pieces of Tiffany & Co. Jewelry.
31. I love paisley prints.
32. I love ribbon- I need to learn to use it more than just on gifts, and in my hair!
33. The first c.d. I ever bought was the Spice Girls.
34. I never watched Beverly Hills 90210 when it was actually on t.v. (I was only 12 when it ended) but I watch the re-runs whenever they are on, and I now own Season 1! NOTE: MOM- Season 2 is now on sale!
35. I love pedicures and French manicures.
36. I love Girl Scout Cookies- especially Thin Mints!
37. I wear glasses.
38. My first car was a Lime green VW Bug.
39. I can share clothes with one of my sisters, and can’t wait to share with the other one- it will triple the size of my wardrobe!
40. I have not grown any taller since 8th grade.
41. My major is Hospitality and Resort Management.
42. I have repelled off of a cliff.
43. I had three photos published in my schools literary magazine- one was used on the cover, and one was the title page!
44. I have seen seven musicals on Broadway.
45. I cried in the movie theater when I saw the Disney movie Tarzan.
46. I have ridden a Greyhound bus to NYC.
47. I rode an airplane all by myself when I was 6 years old.
48. I found a dinosaur bone- with the help from my grandpa!
49. I have lost good friends over really stupid things.
50. I GOOGLE everything- it has only failed me a few times!
51. I was the editor of the yearbook my senior year of high school.
52. I do not like to camp but I volunteered myself to be the assistant YCL director last summer at Girls Camp. (It was an awesome week!)
53. My favorite colors are aqua, pink, and brown.
54. I have a treasure box that I keep old cards, pictures, and other miscellaneous things from people who have taught me important life lessons (both good and bad).
55. I have an impractical Coach bag but I love it anyways.
56. I have celebrated my 100th month Birthday- a tradition I want to carry on when I have my own family.
57. I need to be better at eating my vegetables.
58. I collect Vera Bradley bags and accessories!
59. I am obsessed with Facebook, I check it multiple times a day.
60. I went to a private Catholic high school for my freshman year.
61. I have ridden in a limo a few times.
62. I went to horse camp twice.
63. I love lady bugs, and they are attracted to my hair.
64. I have never broken a bone. (knock-on-wood)
65. I have many inside jokes with family and friends!
66. I love the Disney Channel.
67. I am two years behind in my scrapbook.
68. My graduation ceremony was held at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C.
69. I do not need much sleep, but I love to sleep.
70. My favorite book I read in high school was Pride and Prejudice.
71. I flirt with boys without even knowing it- it isn’t a good thing!
72. I try not to eat white bread and a lot of crackers.
73. I love to eat Caesar Salad.
74. I looked up to my twin babysitters when I was 10, and I still do at 20!
75. I over analyze everything.
76. I would love to have my entire wardrobe bought at Anthropologie, J. Crew, and Ralph Lauren.
77. I never order anything from catalogs but I LOVE to get them!
78. I do not think I talk on my cell phone a lot but from October-April I had talked for 90 hours. That is talking for almost 3 ½ days straight! Is that a lot?!
79. I do not like brown soda- or really any soda! (I do love cherry-limeaides, and sprite mixed with lemonade on occasion though!)
80. I love UGG boots.
81. I love the trail mix from Target.
82. I have an awesome immune system (I somehow escaped catching MONO, Bronchitis, pneumonia, stomach flu, and strep throat from my five roommates),
83. I want to leave my mark wherever I go
84. My faith and my family are two of the most important things to me.
85. I want people to know who I am and what I stand for.
86. I did not have a passport or written parental consent when I went to Canada as a 16 year old. Oops!
87. I love the 80’s and wish I could have been a teenager during the 80’s and early 90’s. (I like Madonna, leggings, and leg-warmers)
88. I have an amazing memory when it comes to what I was wearing or what other people were wearing. For example, I do not really remember anything that happened in my 10th grade chemistry class but I do remember on the day we took a test on elements my teacher was wearing these hideous black acid wash jeans with an orange polo shirt… I know that this talent is going to come in handy some day!
89. I want to go to Paris, France.
90. I pose in almost every single picture I take- I do not even mean to do it! (I have pictures from when I was 2 and I am posing!)
91. I want to learn to golf.
92. I need to work on being more patient.
93. I can’t stand Public Displays of Affection.
94. I have extremely real dreams- sometimes I wake up mad at the person in my dream.
95. I love sour candy.
96. I can’t eat anything grape flavored- it reminds me of children’s chewable aspirin.
97. I am allergic to ibuprofen.
98. My stomach growls even when I am not hungry.
99. I have been told that I wear my heart on my sleeve.
100. I did not think I had 100 things to write- but I did it!

Goodbye Gifts...

There are a lot of things I could (should) be doing...

There is

cleaning
packing
and studying to be done BUT this is what I am doing instead!


I bought each of my roommates frames (Gotta Love Target) and tied on coordinating bows... I am in the process of writing each of them a little note... that will be tomorrows task! This is a lot more fun than reading about Issuing Bonds at a Premium!

Some random reflections from my sophomore year!

Spring is FINALLY here!

(For today at least!)

I can't believe that I only have 2 more weeks here- I am excited and a little sad! I have been thinking a lot lately and when I am not thinking about school I have been thinking about the past few years... I have learned soo many things in the past two years (that will have to be future blog). I was looking through some pictures that I took right before I went to school my freshman year of college and I have changed so much. Not just how I look, but my opinions and attitudes towards different things. I think they have been changes for the better! (Don't worry mom I haven't changed everything!) Even though I have learned so much I have a ton of things I still need to learn- I am keeping a list in my notebook and may be calling on a few of you to help me out!

My new winning deck!

At Wal- Mart last night I found a deck of cards I could not pass up! (Pink and Brown, Argyle- a few of my favorites!) I have a good feeling about this deck- I think I will be winning a lot of NERTZ games!

Look what I found! (on my study break!)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Vera Bradley, and her collection has just gotten even better! There are now pajama pants!

Alright... back to my 12 page English paper!

Happy Easter!

I was able to go up to Logan to celebrate Easter this year! I had a 4 day weekend which was very nice. I was able to spend time with some of my cousins, and also my grandparents! I was able to drive up to Smithfield on Saturday afternoon to spend time with G'pa and G'ma. It was very nice to catch up with both of them!

I helped hide Easter eggs for my cousins... I took a walk with my Grandma and we swung on her neighbors swing, this swing has been there for as long as I can remember!

Meet The Robinsons

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths."

-Walt Disney

Last night my roommates and I saw the Disney movie "Meet the Robinsons". It was one of the best movies I have seen lately! It was great for kids and also for adults. I definately reccomend it to anyone! This is going to sound kind of funny but the movie gave me something to think about! My roommates and I now have a new apartment motto!

Fishing!

I am such a city girl... fishing/camping/hunting are so foreign to me! I do not think I could ever become a hunting girl but I think maybe (maybe maybe) I could enjoy camping and fishing!

My second fishing trip....

Getting all set up....
Me fishing.... (I was bored after an hour of actual fishing, but it was such a FUN day!)
It was an absolutely gorgeous afternoon!
These two boys caught 5 fish!

Wedding!

Eliot and Tracey's wedding luncheon was a lot of fun! I did not take that many pictures (I don't know what was wrong with me!) I LOVE weddings. I would love to be a wedding planner- which is why I love Bridal Magazines! (Not because I am trying to get married! I pinky promise!) Everything was done in a sort of Tiffanys Blue- so cute!

Drew and I,...

Oh! This is my new hair color- brown with blonde highlights!
Tracey and El cutting their cake!

Happy Birthday Best Friend!

Alright so I am a little late... but better late than never, right?! My best friend Elaine turned 20 on March 4th- I met her when we both were 13 years old I can't believe we are both now 20!!! Elaine was my very first friend in Maryland and I could not have asked for a better best friend. We have had our ups and downs but we have managed to remain best friends, even though there are a ton of miles between us (VA-UT). I love you Elaine, and I can't wait for this Summer and for everything else we have going for us!

20 Reasons Why Elaine is so Awesome

and my best friend

1. She was one of the very first people to introduce herself to the new girl (me) and we have been best friends ever since.

2. She is an awesome dancer.

3. We are the same size- so we can share clothes.

4. She introduced me to sushi, and crabs.

5. I am not afraid to eat in front of her! (We can order appetizers, real drinks, and dessert!)

6. We have about a million inside jokes that only we get.

7. We can sing with the computer and not feel weird!

8. Total Eclipse of The Heart (enough said)

9. She is the oldest of 4 kids.

10. She was born in Germany.

11. We talk almost every single week on the phone- not to mention facebook and online!

12. We both worked at Old Navy.

13. She has the same major as me

14. She listens to me whenever I have a problem- even when it is a dumb problem!

15. She is an awesome gift giver

16. We have telepathy with each other- seriously we do!

17. She LOVED high school even more than I did!

18. We are "perfect"

19. We went to NYC together for our 16th birthdays!

20. She loves to pose in pictures just as much as I do!

There are so many more reasons... these are just a few! Happy late Birthday Elaine!!! I love you!

A few highlights from the past few weeks...

MARDI GRAS!

I helped set up for the school sponsored Mardi Gras party. I learned how to make a balloon arche- maybe at the Family Reunion there will be one! haha

Recycled Percussion
They are kind of a mix between the Blue Man Group (minus the blue) and STOMP. They were amazing. You should check them out here http://www.recycledpercussion.com/

I finally found out who my "Big" Sister in Alpha Phi is!

This is a little frame I made her to thank her for all of the nice things she has done for me the past 6 weeks!

A visit from my Dad!

It was so fun to have my dad here for a few days! We were able to go and visit the house, look at furniture, eat sushi, do a little shopping, and catch up! I love it when my dad comes! Can't wait until May!

Me and my dad at Wingers. (I eat really well when my dad is in town!)

Red Dress Gala!

Tonight was our first annua Red Dress Gala! It was our fundraiser for Womens Cardiac Awareness- a dinner, and silent auction for parents, alumni and other important members of the community. It was a huge success- over 200 people! It was a lot of fun to get all dressed up and see what everyone wore!

Here are a few pictures...

Some things I have learned throughout this week...

8,000,000 American women are currently living with heart disease - 10% of women ages 45 - 64 and 25% age 65 and over.
6,000,000 of women today have a history of heart attack Nearly 13% of women age 45 and over have had a heart attack.
435,000 American women have heart attacks each year; 83,000 are under age 65 and 9,000 are under age 45. Their average age is 70.4.

We are supposed to encourage all of the women in our lives who we care about to be healthy and happy! So... please be healthy and happy!

Crabcakes and Football- it's what Maryland does!

I received one of the BEST birthday gifts today! My best friend Elaine sent me a birthday package that had the overall theme of Maryland... she included every single ingredient I need to make crabcakes, a nerf football, Old Bay seasoning salt, measuring cups, trail mix, and a Little Tikes sushi set! I know it is probably difficult to read the tags but they are just so cute I want to write a out a few of them...

Home is where the Heart is: Heart shaped measuring cups

A Trail of Mix to find your way home: Target trail mix (Monster mix is amazing!)

So you can have sushi in Utah: Plastic sushi set

It was so clever and I could tell a lot of thought was put into the gift- thank you soo much Elaine!

20 things I want to do...

I turned 20 on Monday, and I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I have really done in the past 20 years. At first I could not come up with anything, because I have not done anything that awesome... but then I thought of a few things and then I thought of a whole bunch of things I want to do in the NEXT 20 years.

Things I want to do:

1. Go to Paris
2. Graduate from college
3. Get married
4. Have a family
5. Learn to ski
6. Become a better cook
7. Become a better public speaker
8. Become more creative
9. Keep in touch with friends
10. Attend General Conference
11. Have a huge photo wall in my house
12. Go to Italy
13. Ride first class
14. Meet someone famous
15. Be a succesful event planner
16. Live on the East Coast
17. Learn to speak Spanish
18. Become a better person
19. Not be such a fraidy cat
20. Still be happy with the kind of person I am!

Mono, and Rush week!

This has been such a crazy, busy week! One of my roommates was diagnosed with MONO last Monday and she went back home for the week. This gave us all a scare- I seriously thought I had it, but really I just have an overly active imagination! We have been scrubbing our side of the apartment and the kitchen trying to rid it of any germs that may still be lurking around! It has been weird not to have my roommate around- it is like a member of my family is missing!



It has been Rush week here on campus for the Sororites and Fraternities. I decided to rush for Alpha Phi, and after a busy week I received a bid from them! It is going to be a great way to be involved and meet more people!

Happy 12th Birthday Emily!

Happy 12th Birthday Emily! Here are a few of my favorite things about Emily.....

1. She has a great singing voice.
2. She is a fabulous baker!
3. She has a strong testimony.
4. She is willing to try new things.
5. She is a great helper.
6. She is an awesome tap dancer.
7. She has a good sense of humor- and says things that make me laugh.
8. She does really good impressions of people- especially Hermione from Harry Potter.
9. She is a hard worker.
10. She loves High School Musical just as much as me.
11. She is figuring out the crazy world of Middle School.
12. She is growing up into a beautiful young woman with so much to offer!

Emily- I hope you have a wonderful 12th Birthday! I wish I could be there to celebrate with you! I love you- have a great day!

Happy New Year!

These are a few pictures from New Years Even and also New Years Day! I hung out with my Best Friend on New Years Eve and also went to her family's New Years Day Open House on New Years Day!

High School Musical

Going to High School Musical was a highlight of my break but I decided it deserved its own post! I took Emily, but I think (I know) I liked it just as much as she did! It was a really good performance and since I have actually been in High School I feel like I can actually connect with them! That is just my excuse for being the oldest/non-parent there! Here are a few pictures from the evening...

Some highlights of Winter Break!

A fun family tradition- bowling! We went duck pin bowling this year- I am not any better at duck pin bowling than I am at regular bowling!
My family went out to sushi with my best friend and her family! This is a picture of a few of us at dinner!
We got Taboo for Christmas which was a lot of fun to play! Cara and I make quite a team!

Merry Christmas!

I know it is way past Christmas but I decided to give a quick Christmas up-date! The first picture is kind of crazy so do not look at it very closely! I am wearing my new pj pants, ugg boots and hat! The second picture is of us cooking on Christmas Eve! Christmas was a lot of fun- unfortunately I did not finish my A-Z scrapbook for my family- I will definately blog it once it is completed (in May)!

FINALS...

I actually have not had a final (mine begin tomorrow) BUT I have been studying the past few days. I am looking forward to taking my tests and going home! I received this Finals Survival Kit the other morning. It was such a fun surprise, (sent by my wonderful mother)! It had scantrons, pencils, and of course a ton of so good (so bad) for you food! Thank you mom for thinking of me- you are awesome (and all of my roommates think you are too!) Alright... back to studying!

Secret Roommate!

I just finished making my gift for my "Secret Roommate". I painted a picture frame and then added some rub-ons! The pictures are not the best- but you get the idea! We all drew names a week or two ago and gave each other a $10 budged. We are exchanging gifts on Thursday, before we all go home for break! It should be a fun night, The Office and a gift exchange! For roommate fhe tomorrow we are making a Gingerbread Dorm- it should be fun!